Apostles Creed
The Apostles Creed is one of the earliest statements of faith circulated in the early Church. It focuses on the essentials teachings of the faith, without getting into the deeper philosophical meanings associated with the Nicene Creed – which Arianism and other heretical teachings made necessary. Both creeds seek to summarize what the teachings of Scripture are, but Scriptures remains the final authority in all things concerning faith and practice.
As Christian writers, it is important that we be as the Bereans of Act 17, who were willing to check up on the Apostle Paul – to see if his teachings were indeed true to the Scriptures. Paul had no problem with them doing this, because he understood that it is the truth that sets us free, not following any particular teacher. God honored his faithfulness and humility by allowing his letters to be part of the Canon of Scripture.
Whether you are writing specifically about the Scriptures, or writing on themes that it teaches about, it is vital that you study the Scriptures and take responsibility for knowing what they teach. Only as they become a part of who you are – with the Holy Spirits help – will they begin to challenge and transform you from the inside out, and lay a strong foundation for your writing.
God will hold us all accountable for what we believe and teach and write as His representatives. We do not want to stand before Him and be asked, “Who told you to write those words in My name? I never taught such a thing. “
But the Berean’s could only check up on Paul because they were students of the Scriptures themselves. What about you?
Jesus said that the Last Days – before He comes back again – will be marked by false prophets and teachers. They will tell people what they want to hear, not what God wants the people to hear. Telling the truth is always hard when it is a difficult message, and when people don’t want to hear it; but if we are true to Him and His Word, He will use our faithfulness to reach those that are His. As Jesus said, My Sheep hear My voice…” John 10.
The Apostles creed is a very helpful for reminding us about what we believe, but memorizing it is no substitute for being a student of the Scriptures. It is the Word of God that transforms lives, not creeds and statements of faith – no matter how true they are. Here is the Apostles Creed in full.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell (hades).
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic (universal)* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
May your writing bring honor to His name and make a difference for good in the world, but also in the church where the truth is being diluted and even denied by false teachers who want the approval of men and women more than God.